Robotic Aids for Visually Impaired

For the visually impaired, navigating city streets or neighborhoods has constant challenges. And the reality is that a significant number of such people must rely on a rudimentary technology - a simple cane - to find their way through a world filled with obstacles. A group of USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers is working to change this by developing a robotic, vision-based mobility aid for the visually impaired. A design first shown a year ago now is being further developed. For the USC Viterbi team, the need is clear. Researchers have developed software that sees the world and linked it to a system that provides tactile messages to alert users about objects in their paths.

The system uses Simultaneous Localization and Mapping software to build three-dimensional maps of the environment and to identify a safe path through obstacles. The route information is conveyed to the user through a guide vest that includes four micro-motors located on an individual’s shoulder and waist that vibrate like cell phones. For example, when a vibration on the left shoulder indicates a higher object to the left, such as a low-hanging branch, the individual can use that information to take a new path. Researchers said that canes have clear limitations with larger objects, from walls to concrete structures, and the technology will enable users to avoid falls and injuries.

More information:

http://uscnews.usc.edu/science_technology/researchers_create_robotic_aids_for_visually_impaired.html